MEDIA STATEMENT Tuesday 8 February 2022
Why has the Morrison Government ignored the private aged care crisis? A message from ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick
Aged care nurses and personal care workers are protesting today at Parliament House in Canberra and federal government buildings around the country to highlight the extreme private aged care staffing crisis and the consequences of neglect on them and their residents.
The protest numbers are low because there just are not enough nurses and carers.
They should not have to protest.
There was a crisis in private aged care before the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector is in dire straits now.
The Royal Commission into Aged Care Safety and Quality found poor staffing levels and low wages were key factors contributing to the neglect of vulnerable aged care residents.
This is not a reflection on the nurses and personal care workers trying their best to hold the system together.
With this knowledge, the Morrison Government kicked the mandated minimum staffing can down the road to October 2023.
It has given no commitment to support the 25 per cent wage case before the Fair Work Commission.
Nor has it acknowledged that the outcome of this case may not translate to the wages of the majority of aged care nurses and personal care workers whose wages and conditions are determined by an enterprise agreement, not the award.
The Morrison Government knows the issue is not enough nurses and personal care workers. We know that this causes missed resident care, neglect, and premature death.
Why is the Morrison Government not moving heaven and earth to increase staff now?
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch) has more than 95,000 members across the Victorian health, mental health and aged care sectors – including 16,000 private aged care nurses and personal care workers.
